hamate

noun

ha·​mate ˈhā-ˌmāt 

: a bone on the inner side of the second row of the carpus in mammals

Examples of hamate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Within a few weeks, first baseman Andrew Vaughn (hamate fracture) and outfielder and unofficial captain Christian Yelich (strained groin) joined him on the IL. — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

He was plagued with right wrist soreness, which came weeks after a right hamate surgery (on a small bone in the hand) that cost him nearly four weeks of action. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026

Ramírez has struggled since returning from having his left hamate bone removed on June 16. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Jackson was initially added to the Twins’ roster in May when Ryan Jeffers suffered a broken hamate bone. — Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin hamatus hooked, from hamus hook

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hamate

• dammit
• gamut

Medical Definition

hamate

1 of 2 adjective

ha·​mate

ˈhā-ˌmāt also ˈham-ət

: shaped like a hook

hamate

2 of 2 noun

variants or hamate bone

: a bone on the little-finger side of the second row of the carpus in mammals

called also unciform, unciform bone